Holder or pincushion



Aug 26, 1947. D. WILLIAMS 2,

HOLDER 0R PIN CUSHION File d May 2, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY 7' R. D. WILLIAMS I 2,426,329

. HOLDER on PIN, CUSHION 'Fild May-2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I, 20 I l I v 19 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDER OR PINCUSHION Rachel D. Williams, New Rochelle, N. Y. Application May 2, 1945, Serial No. 591,550

Claims.

This invention relates to holders, and more particularly to holders for pointed articles such as pins, needles and the like and commonly identified as a pin cushion.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pin cushion not subject to disintegration by continued use, or loss of fragments of the bodyforming material of which it is composed.

Another objector the invention is to employ a body-forming material wherein headless articles, uch as needles, will not tend to bury themselves out of reach for ready withdrawal.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dainty pin cushion of adequate depth with means to prevent tipping over or shifting of posi-- tion when a pin or the like is pressed into the body-forming material.

Again, an object of th invention is to apply appropriate decorative covering for the bodyforming material with economy of both labor and parts employed.

Other objects or the invention will appear as the description proceeds, both by direct recitation thereof and by inference from the context.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate similar part throughout the several views Figure 1 is a perspective view of a holder of the nature of a pin cushion embodying the invention;

Figure Fig. 1;

Figure Sis an expanded view of the several parts comprising the holder of Fig. l;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a modified assembly of holder;

Figure 5 is a vertical diametrio section of the holder of Fig. 4; and

Figure 6 is an expanded view of the several parts comprising the holder of, Figs. 4. and 5.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings, the reference numeral l0 designates the body-forming member, or briefly, the body of the holder. It is preferably, although not necessarily, cylindrical and intended to be stood on end, that is, axially vertical. Furthermore said body is preferably an open-grained fibrous piece of vegetable growth, more especially a single piece of short length of wood the grain of which is longitudinally vertical. The wood preferred is of the mallow species and especially from the balsa tree. Wood of this species has a Very open grain but of long fibre so it is readily penetrated, especially endwise, by a pin or the like, but the fibres remain anchored 2 is a cross section of the holder of 2 longitudinally so that repeated pricking does not sever the fibres or disintegrate the piece of wood constituting the body of the holder. This specie of wood has advantages for this particular use in that its cross-sectional constituency is conslstent throughout but adequately porous to receive at any part of its cut surface an article of the size and shape of a pin or needle for any desired penetration with only very moderate exertion on the pin or needle to force it into the grain structure of the wood. However the grain struc ture is sufliciently dense to frictionally retain the injected article in whatever position and at what ever depth it is applied. The grain structure sufiers no material disturbance or dislodgement, and consequently adjacent articles previously injected therein will not be shifted nor have their retention relinquished by application of another article close thereto. The natural anchorage of the fibres preventing longitudinal movement thereof function to prevent longitudinal movement of one article from transmitting longitudinal movement to another nearby article. This definitely prevents such articles as needles from becoming inadvertently buried in the holder; an inherent and highly objectional fault of the usual stufied pin cushion.

The length of wood constituting the body of my improved holder is preferably cut at its basal end on a plane and perpendicular to the axial length, so that it will readily rest on that end without wobbling. In the present showing, the upper end of the body is parallel to the basal end and for stability it is preferred that the height shall not exceed the diameter of the body. Likewise for additional stability, the basal end of the body is secured, as by glue on the top of a basal member I I, such as a cardboard disc as shown. This basal member afiords adequate footing for the article to prevent shifting and tilting of the same in the normal operation of applying a pin or the like into the top of the body l0.

Appropriate and attractive covering for the body and basal member is provided to give the article the appearance in the present showing of a hat, such as worn by women, but in miniature. In Figures 1 to 3, the covering is shown as comprising a crown covering l2 which is smoothly applied across the upper end of the body and depends at the sides thereof. A band l3, elastic or otherwise, extends around of the crown covering l2 and binds it to the periphery of the body It. An accordion pleated side covering [4 is applied around the peripheral side of the body overlying the depending the depending portion portion of the top covering. The lowermargin of the side covering is allowed to flare outwardly, as a fiounce I over the basal member II and gives the appearance of a hat brim. A ribbon l6 ties around the side covering substantially around the part of the body where the under band I3 is located. Preferably pins l! are inserted in the accordion pleats of the side covering and into the body for firmly securing the side covering in place. The heads of these pins may be protected within the pleats and under the ribbon. As a finishing touch, an artificial bouquet 18 may be applied at one side of the body above the basal member, the soft character of-the body permitting introduction of the several pins just mentioned for holding the covering materials and flowers. Since these holding pins are inserted across the grain, even greater frictional retention thereof is secured than is obtained in use of the device with pins inserted lengthwise of the grain. It will be understood that the covering material is a suitable fabric of any desired color and pattern.

In Figures 4-6, the covering I9. is preferably integral for the end of the body and for the side and inclusive of the fiounce covering the basal member and likewise is a suitable fabric. Since there is not a second thickness of material around the body in thisinstance for covering a rubber or other band, I preferably employ a clear or transparent band 20, such as a band of polystyrene or the like of appropriate size to bind the covering to the body. This band ;'20, if desired may be a complete ring of appropriate size whereby it may be forced down around the body and covering material and form and hold the latter pleated. As in the preceding figures, a ribbon l6 and an artificial bouquet may be applied and held by pins inserted in the body cross-wise of the grain. I thus utilize the greater retentive cross-grain grip on the pins for holding the parts assembled, but present the open-grain end cut of the body for application of pins and the like by the user. The covering is, nevertheless, removable for washing and readily returnable to place by the owner.

I claim:

1. A holder of the character described cornprising a body formed from balsa wood the grains whereof are fibrous and directed endwise, and a basal member at and extending across one end of said body and projecting outwardly therefrom in a plane for retaining the body and fibrous grain upright, whereby its upper end is available for injection of pins and the -like therein longitudinally of the fibers.

of said body directed upward and adapted to receive pins or the like therein.

3. A holder in accordance with claim 1 with which is provided a covering for said body, and pins extending into said body transverse to the grain thereof and through said covering.

4. A holder of the character described, comprising a cylindrical body of balsa wood the grains whereof are fibrous and extend longitudinally with respect to the axis thereof, said body having greater diameter than length, a cardboard basal member at the bottom of said body extending across said body and secured fiatwise against the bottom end thereof and having a peripheral rim projecting in a common plane with the bottom end of the body outwardly therefrom, a fabric covering extending acros the upper end of said body and depending entirely around the upper part of the cylindrical face of the body, another fabric covering around the entire cylindrical face of the body and overlapping the first said covering, and a band secured around the overlapping portions of said coverings around said body, the second mentioned of said coverings flaring outwardly and overlying the peripheral projecting rim of the cardboard basal-member.

5. A holder of the character described, comprising a cylindrical body of balsa wood the I grains whereof are fibrous and extend longitu- 2. A holder of the character described comv prising a body formed from balsa wood the grains whereof are fibrous and directed toward the ends of said body, one said end of the body being fiat, a basal member extending across and secured to said fiat end and projecting therefrom in a plane common with the plane of said end, thereby supporting said body upright and retaining said body from tilting, thereby maintaining the opposite end dinally with respect to the axis of said cylindrical body, said body having greater diameter than length, a basal member of self-sustaining rigidity at the bottom of and extending across said body and secured fiatwise against the bottom end thereof and having a rim projecting in a common plane with the bottom end of the body outwardly therefrom, a fabric covering extending across the upper end ofsaid body and depending entirely around the upper margin of the cylindrical face of the body, another fabric covering around the entire cylindrical face of the body and overlapping the first said covering, a band around the overlapping portions of said coverings around said body, pins in said band and coverings projecting across-grain into said body for holding the band and coverings in fixed position on the body, the second mentioned of said coverings flaring downwardly outward toward and over the peripheral projecting rim of the basal member.

RACHEL D. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,222,413 Korenchan Nov. 19, 194" FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,538 Great Britain 1909 12,148 Great Britain 1915 

